Narrator Amy Rubinate draws listeners in right from the audiobook's prologue. Deftly transitioning between the two primary characters—Mabel and Rosamund—Rubinate brings to life very different women with two important things in common: a desire to be more than is expected and a willingness to take a leap of faith. Mabel, growing up on a farm in Ohio in the late 1800s, dreams of seeing the world. Rosamund, growing up on an estate in England in the 1920s, wants to define her own destiny. Under very different circumstances, their lives collide in the magical, mysterious world of Ringling Brothers Circus. Rubinate's narration depicts it all—the sights, sounds, and smells of the big top—as listeners are introduced to incredible characters brought together by the “greatest show on earth.” K.S.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

04/11/2016
Cambron (The Butterfly and the Violin) seesaws between story lines and time periods in her latest novel. Fleshing out the life of the enigmatic Mable Ringling (wife of American circus entrepreneur John Ringling, of Ringling Bros. fame), Cambron fictionalizes a great deal, including how the couple met, while sprinkling in some historical facts. In the second thread, Lady Rosamund Easling’s prized Arabian horse is purchased by the circus, and she leaves England and a prospective suitor to follow the animal to America. Mable and Rosamund have a few brief encounters, but primarily these are two separate stories of strong and determined women who boldly leave their pasts in search of fulfillment. Both end up in the shadow of the big top, but with much different perspectives. Cambron vividly depicts circus life during the 1920s, when the vast menagerie moved in 100-car trains and the Ringlings were establishing themselves in Sarasota, Fla., society. With a strong supporting cast of friends and family—including a nemesis or two—the women experience heartbreak, loss, hope, and triumph, all set against the colorful backdrop of the “greatest show on Earth.” Agent: Rachelle Gardner, Books & Such Literary. (June)

Cambron vividly depicts circus life during the 1920s, when the vast menagerie moved in 100-car trains and the Ringlings were establishing themselves in Sarasota, Fla., society. With a strong supporting cast of friends and family---including a nemesis or two---the women experience heartbreak, loss, hope, and triumph, all set against the colorful backdrop of the greatest show on Earth.--Publishers Weekly

4 stars. 'Cambron takes a real person, Mable Ringling, and breathes fictional life into her while staying true to what is known about this compelling woman. The novel is an intriguing look into circus life in the 1920s. A bit more depth into the characters would have been desirable, but the author's gift for writing beautifully crafted sentences will draw readers into the story and the fascinating world of the circus.'--RT Book Reviews

4 stars. 'Cambron takes a real person, Mable Ringling, and breathes fictional life into her while staying true to what is known about this compelling woman. The novel is an intriguing look into circus life in the 1920s. A bit more depth into the characters would have been desirable, but the author’s gift for writing beautifully crafted sentences will draw readers into the story and the fascinating world of the circus.'

★ 06/01/2016
Colin Keary, on a recruiting trip for Ringling Brothers Circus, rescues Lady Rosamund Easling from a creek. In America for a final adventure before her arranged marriage, Rosamund agrees to accompany Colin to check out the circus. There she meets acrobats, bareback riders, and a tattooed lady. Her new friends open Rosamund's eyes to the exotic and often uncompromising world of circus life, but as her determination to join the performers grows, she encounters sabotage and veiled threats. Interspersed with Colin and Rosamund's story are vignettes about Mable and John Ringling that move between the late 1880s and the 1920s. Mable's journey from farm girl to business icon provides Rosamund with a model of strength and acceptance. With rich descriptions, attention to detail, mesmerizing characters, and an understated current of faith, this work evokes writers such as Kim Vogel Sawyer, Francine Rivers, and Sara Gruen. The author's third novel (after The Butterfly and the Violin) transports readers to a turn-of-the-20th-century wonderland, the world of the Big Top. VERDICT Cambron is a CF rising star, but her books will appeal to a wider audience seeking graceful stories with historical depth.—Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

Narrator Amy Rubinate draws listeners in right from the audiobook's prologue. Deftly transitioning between the two primary characters—Mabel and Rosamund—Rubinate brings to life very different women with two important things in common: a desire to be more than is expected and a willingness to take a leap of faith. Mabel, growing up on a farm in Ohio in the late 1800s, dreams of seeing the world. Rosamund, growing up on an estate in England in the 1920s, wants to define her own destiny. Under very different circumstances, their lives collide in the magical, mysterious world of Ringling Brothers Circus. Rubinate's narration depicts it all—the sights, sounds, and smells of the big top—as listeners are introduced to incredible characters brought together by the “greatest show on earth.” K.S.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine